5 Tips to Eliminate Odors in the Air Vents

Your living environment will quickly become uncomfortable if you don’t take steps to eliminate odors in the air vents. One reason for your delay, could be the fact that you don’t want to deal with a dead animal in the walls or under the vents. You might not know how to deal with other sources of odors. Spraying air fresheners to cover up the problem, will only make things worse in the long run, and some sprays will only negatively impact the quality of the air in your apartment. Use these 4 tips to eliminate odors in the air vents.

1 – Call Your Landlord

One of the benefits of renting an apartment is that you have access to a handyman, either the landlord or a professional they hire. As long as you’re not the cause of the odor, calling your landlord or property manager is on the table. If the source of the odor is from other tenants in the building, this may be the only way to eliminate the odors. Your landlord can resolve any issues with nearby tenants, so that you don’t have to.

2 – Remove Source of Odor

You may not want your landlord or manager coming to the apartment just to help you eliminate odors in the air vents. If that’s the case, find out what’s causing the odor and remove it yourself. For example, wear work gloves, use a flashlight, remove the screws from the vents and try to locate a dead animal. Have a small bag handy to dispose of it. If cigarette smoke is the issue, then stop smoking inside the apartment. Dirt could also be the problem. Clean dirt in the vents, and clean and reinstall any filters. You should replace heat and air conditioning filters once a month anyway, and your landlord should reimburse you for any out of pocket expenses.

3 – Odor Absorber

A better alternative to spraying air freshener sprays in an effort to eliminate odors, is to buy an odor absorber. Baking soda is a natural odor absorber. There are also products on the market that use a charcoal filter to absorb odors. This works if you can’t immediately remove the source of the odor. Keep in mind that an odor absorber is simply a temporary fix.

4 – Cover Vents

It takes days to eliminate odors from smoking. You may have to cover the vents to prevent the smell from lingering around your apartment. Duct tape the air vents or find other ways to cover it up to prevent the air from coming through the vents.

5 – Avoid Vinegar

Some people think it’s fine to pour vinegar down vents to eliminate odors like urine. However, vinegar can damage the ducts and you’ll end up paying for it out of your security deposit. Use baking soda or other odor absorbers instead.

If none of these work, ask your landlord to hire a professional to help you eliminate the odor if the cause of it is beyond your control.